Route Planner Ireland

Routenplaner24 is a free route planner for Ireland. Enter a start and a destination to get the fastest route with live traffic, the distance in kilometres and turn-by-turn directions.

Route Planner Ireland: route, distance and driving time

Ireland is easy to explore by car: motorways link Dublin with Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Belfast, and most of the country can be reached within a few hours. The most beautiful routes, such as the Wild Atlantic Way and the Ring of Kerry, run along narrow, winding coastal roads – plan more time than the distance suggests.

The Ireland route planner calculates the fastest route between any two places free of charge, with live traffic, up to two alternative routes and turn-by-turn directions. Below you will find popular routes with distances in kilometres, how to pay the M50 toll, the current speed limits and the most important rules of the road.

Popular routes in Ireland

Plan a route from Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, Sligo, Killarney, Westport or Belfast to anywhere in Ireland. The table shows the distance and driving time for frequently searched routes. Click “Plan route” to load the start and destination into the route planner.

Route	Distance	Driving time*	Plan route
Dublin to Cork	256 km	2 h 55 min	Plan route
Dublin to Galway	208 km	2 h 25 min	Plan route
Dublin to Limerick	197 km	2 h 25 min	Plan route
Dublin to Belfast	168 km	2 h 5 min	Plan route
Dublin to Waterford	165 km	2 h	Plan route
Dublin to Kilkenny	124 km	1 h 40 min	Plan route
Dublin to Sligo	208 km	2 h 45 min	Plan route
Cork to Killarney	90 km	1 h 20 min	Plan route
Cork to Galway	206 km	2 h 45 min	Plan route
Limerick to Galway	107 km	1 h 25 min	Plan route
Limerick to Cork	99 km	1 h 35 min	Plan route
Galway to Westport	78 km	1 h 25 min	Plan route

* Driving time for the fastest route without breaks, calculated for normal traffic. “Plan route” calculates the route with live traffic and alternatives.

Tolls in Ireland

Ireland has no vignette, but some motorways, bridges and tunnels charge a toll:

M50 (Dublin): a barrier-free toll between junctions 6 and 7. A car without an account pays €3.80 per trip (€3.20 with a free video account, €2.60 with a tag). Pay online at eFlow, by phone or at a Payzone outlet by 8pm the day after your trip – otherwise a €4 penalty is added, and after 14 days another €51.
Toll plazas with barriers on several motorways, for example the M1 near Drogheda, the M3, M4, M6, M7 and M8, the N25 Waterford bypass and the Limerick Tunnel, plus the Dublin Port Tunnel. You pay at the barrier.

Northern Ireland (for example Belfast) is part of the UK: speed limits there are in miles per hour, and you pay in pounds sterling.

Rules of the road in Ireland at a glance

Side of the road	drive on the left, overtake on the right
Built-up areas	50 km/h; many towns and residential areas have 30 km/h zones
Rural local roads	60 km/h (since February 2025)
Regional and national roads	80 km/h on regional roads and up to 100 km/h on national roads – always follow the signs
Motorways	120 km/h
Drink-driving limit	50 mg alcohol per 100 ml blood; 20 mg for learner, novice and professional drivers
Mobile phones	holding a phone while driving is illegal
Emergency number	112 or 999

As of November 2026. No liability for accuracy – rules and prices can change.

Tips for driving in Ireland

Narrow country roads

Many rural roads are narrow, with stone walls or hedges right at the edge. Slow down on bends, watch out for tractors, cyclists and sheep, and pull in to let oncoming traffic pass.

Allow more time in the west

On the Wild Atlantic Way, in Connemara and in Kerry, the roads are narrow and winding. Plan for an average of 50 to 60 km/h and enjoy the views.

Pay the M50 toll

If your route uses the M50 in Dublin between junctions 6 and 7, remember to pay by 8pm the next day. With a rental car, ask whether the toll is charged automatically.

Crossing into Northern Ireland

There are no border controls between Ireland and Northern Ireland, but speed limits and distances there are in miles, and the currency is the pound. Check that your rental car insurance covers Northern Ireland.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pay the M50 toll?

There are no barriers on the M50. Pay online at eFlow, by phone or at a Payzone outlet by 8pm the day after your trip. Without an account a car pays €3.80 per trip, with a free video account €3.20 and with a tag €2.60.

What are the speed limits in Ireland?

Speed limits are in km/h: 50 km/h in towns (30 km/h in many zones), 60 km/h on rural local roads, 80 km/h on regional roads, up to 100 km/h on national roads and 120 km/h on motorways.

How long is the drive from Dublin to Cork?

The fastest route via the M7 and M8 is about 256 km long. Without breaks and traffic the driving time is just under 3 hours; allow more time if you leave Dublin in the rush hour.

What is the drink-driving limit in Ireland?

50 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood for most drivers, and 20 mg for learner, novice and professional drivers. Even one drink can put you over the limit, so it is best not to drink at all before driving.

Do I need a vignette for Ireland?

No, Ireland has no vignette. You only pay tolls on certain motorways, the Limerick Tunnel, the Dublin Port Tunnel and the M50 in Dublin.